ANNOUNCEMENT
RIIL - Center on Research Information for Independent Living

We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Center on Research Information for Independent Living (RIIL) to improve access and use of research information by people with disabilities and other non-researcher stakeholders involved in the independent living, disability rights, and rehabilitation fields. 

Stakeholder input will be used in the primary step of organizing  RIIL’s work and to implement the Center’s goal—“making relevant and usable research information available to non-researchers in order to assist them in enhancing independent living (IL).”  RIIL will be asking consumers and individuals knowledgeable about overall IL research information needs to rank the importance of various types of information and barriers to that information.  The results will be used to prioritize the retrieval, review, and dissemination of research information. Also, the priorities will be discussed at an open meeting at the National Conference on Independent Living.

RIIL is a joint venture of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL), University of Kansas and Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU), a program of The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR).  A variety of approaches will be used.  They include:

• A comprehensive, searchable, and interactive Internet database that enables individuals to search for specific research information, request additional information, or make recommendations;  

• A “One-Stop” WWW site that enables users to: 1) access the disability research database, 2) retrieve related research, 3) access discussion groups with researchers, 4) discuss research information with friends, colleagues, and partners, 5) acquire technical assistance for RIIL products, and 6) learn to use research to one’s advantage;

• Condensed, but critical, research review information provided in user-friendly and accessible formats developed according to priorities established by consumers and stakeholders;

• Alternate dissemination methods such as “information brokers” for individuals without Internet access;

• Chatrooms to discuss scheduled research with researchers often present;

• Listservs and moderated newsgroups to provide and discuss current research reviews;

• Technical assistance on using the database, newsgroups, chatrooms, and WWW site. 

• A review guide and technical assistance for researchers to produce their studies in the alternate user-friendly RIIL review formats and meet obligation to disseminate information to non-researchers.

• A research primer and technical assistance to enable consumers to better understand and maximize research for their IL purposes.

We will be conducting a survey to obtain this information in the near future.  We hope that those who receive the survey will take advantage of this opportunity and help shape the direction of our work.